Two items specifically highlighted (in bold) by new CPA president Peter Wilson in the president's report in the recently released CPA 2017 annual report tell us much about the leadership failure at CPA Australia, both past and present.

Firstly, he re-emphasised the 'myth' that the exposure of these issues involved diligent work done behind the scenes by members including those on divisional and branch councils. That is pure myth. It was the media (primarily The Australian Financial Review) and non-involved members at branch or divisional level who forced their hand. In effect, they asked "Why have you people in the know allowed this to go on for so long"? For the new president to repeat this myth (that the Independent Review Panel also emphasised) is what I call rewriting history.

Secondly, Wilson emphasised (again in bold) that the members want the issues addressed and for CPA to move forward. All very commendable but what he conveniently ignored (as did the Independent Review Panel) was the members were screaming for action to be taken against the CPA leadership who allowed this to happen. The new board's response – 'Let's move on'.

In other words there will be no accountability for what has happened at CPA Australia, hardly the foundation for a strong professional organisation.